Why Bradford City watched clips of Walsall win in pre-season

The City manager’s mantra is focusing on the here and now and not something that cannot be changed.

But he makes an exception with last season’s eventful trip to Walsall.

The April contest had everything as the Bantams came from 2-0 down to win – despite playing the final quarter with 10 men as two-goal Jamie Walker blotted his copybook with a soft sending-off.

It’s not the manner of the fightback that Alexander is keen to look back on.

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The spell that most impressed him was when they went down in numbers and how they dealt with Walsall’s late charge.

City refused to be penned in and tried to take the game to their hosts.

That object lesson in still pressing their opponents, despite the numerical disadvantage, formed part of the tactical team talks and analysis as they prepared for the new campaign.

“When we talked about the press in pre-season, we showed them those periods that we can still press when we’re a man down,” said Alexander.

“That’s where you have the confidence and trust to do that.

“I think by then we’d built up a head of steam in how we played. Players believed that even with 10 men we could still do it.

“Eventually it became a bit too much because of the pressure. They were gambling a lot and you have to defend that.

“We got pinned back and it became (a case of) who wants to head the ball out the box.

“But certainly in the first period (after the red card) we were really strong and compact and turned the ball over in good areas.”

City’s travelling support were put through the wringer after Walsall jumped into an early two-goal advantage before Walker led the recovery – only to be sent for an early bath.

Alexander added: “Walsall were chasing the play-offs so they had to win to stay in there. There was a lot of emotion in the ground anyway.

“It was almost like a party atmosphere at 2-0 but the players dug in and Cooky (Andy Cook) got us back into it with a header at the far post.

“We gradually got to grips with the game, levelled and then went in front.

“We then went down to 10 men but I thought we managed that part of the game really well.

Andy Cook's header begins the City fightback last season (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“The comeback showed good quality and character but how we saw out the last 15 minutes with 10 men showed intelligence.

“We still pressed the ball in good areas and we use that as a reference point.”

City boast a decent record at Walsall – that was their fourth win in the last five visits.

Not that Alexander feels what panned out last time will have any relevance in tomorrow’s contest.

“It’s not often you come back from two goals down to win a game and it was a big result on that day.

“But regardless of whether we’d won, lost or drawn that game, it doesn’t have a bearing on this one.

“We have to go there with fresh minds and reset standards and try and keep this improvement going.

“We do need to improve if we want to do what we want to this year.

“They’ve changed a few players as well. Their game is really similar to ours, so we know what to expect.

“But they’ll have the same ideas. We just have to aim to be the best team on the day.”